Former Rector of Waynesville Church Faces Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

By Rex Hodge
WLOS
February 5, 2016

http://www.wlos.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Former-Rector-of-Waynesville-Church-Faces-Allegations-of-Sexual-Misconduct--252709.shtml#.VrX3JfmLS01


A former Episcopal priest who was the longtime rector of a Waynesville church faces allegations of sexual misconduct.

Former students of a private school in Rhode Island claim Howard White abused them when he was on the staff there in the '70s and '80s.

News 13's Rex Hodge was in Waynesville Friday, where he reported on new information about alleged sexual abuse of a minor. A WNC woman said she was sexually abused when White was rector at Grace Church in the Mountains, where White served from 1984 until 2006, when she was a minor.

Read the letter from the Rev. G. Porter Taylor here about allegations of sexual abuse.

News 13 talked to Waynesville Police, who confirm they have been notified and are investigating.

From a letter released late Friday afternoon from Bishop Porter Taylor of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina in Asheville:

"Earlier this week I received an email message from a person informing me that she had been sexually abused by the Rev. White many years ago during his tenure as rector at Grace in the Mountains, and while she was a minor."

"We also notified the district attorney's office and police. In deference to their responsibilities and any possible criminal prosecutions, we will share all that we can and will assist their investigators."

"It is important that we have a full understanding of any misconduct that may have occurred to others so that we can do our best to support them."

More from News 13 as this story develops.